Aussie adventure Sept 2010

That's good to know...I've been trying to find something like that but all the banks/transfer companies I've found charge a fee - didn't think of Paypal! Although, do you have to be an Oz citizen to have a Oz Paypal account (you mentioned your friend lives there) or can you just set one up as normal when out there?

Trying to sort out things now, as Im way behind where I prob should be.

So yeh, leave on the 26th August flying to Thailand, traveling down to Singapore for 2 weeks before arriving in Oz on 11th September.

Got a hostel booked for 15 nights (Base @ St Kilda), hopefully that will give me time to find a job and somewhere to stay. No real plans to open so suggestions, def wanna be in Sydney for New Years. and Want to head up east coast and over to Perth at Some point. Was looking at the train from Sydney to Perth...think that would be quite an experience.

Game plan is to come home via New Zealand, Fiji, LA, Vegas and maybe Miami if the money will stretch haha.

Still dont have insurance, thats the big thing on the list at the moment. So any tips would be great.

Do you have to be an Oz citizen to have a Oz Paypal account (you mentioned your friend lives there) or can you just set one up as normal when out there?

Well I just set up an Oz paypal account this weekend, and I did need to provide an Oz address (but I would imagine if you had a friend in Oz you could use that, as I can't really see any need for the address) and I also had to provide my Oz bank details, so that again could be a problem unless you managed to get an Oz bank account set up before you left?

I've just re read through this thread again properly, as I'm now definately going!!! =DD I fly out on the 4th September with Emirates, which I got as a return with stopovers in Dubai, and Thailand as well on the way back as an option to do a week or two there as well. I'm doing the Ozintro week starting the 6th Sept, then probably staying in Sydney til the new year working, start travelling in Jan once Ive saved up a bit. My visa got confirmed today, sooo excited! If anyone else is gonna be in Sydney around then. let me know!

I fly out to sydney on the 5th October realy realy looking forward to it 90 days today ahhhhhhhh very scared too. I was wondering where abouts youll be staying around the time i arrive? Ive been looking at a few and found a small one thats constantly top rated (the blue parrot) im thinking of booking in there for a few week first where have you lot been looking at? The thing im most botherd about is transfering all the money i have to an australian account ive been told to transfer it all before then when you get over the bank will have it then theyll give you your bank details but i dont realy trust that for some reason. Im kind of a quiet guy who lives in his shell im doing this alone for the whole experience and hopefully itl bring me out of my shell abit if anyone going about the same time want to share a few emails and stuff that would be cool we can give eachother tips. Looking forward to hearing from you fellow travellers

Hi Miss!Since the other reason for you to visit Sydney is to have adventure, I suggest to go into Circular Quay--walk around there--see the Rocks--The Harbour and the Bridge--Opera House--the Botonical Gardens--Hyde Park. Stroll around Darling Harbour--Take a shop tour while your at it--walk across the bridge--the views are just wonderful. There are great places to sit and eat around Darling. I just like to stop and eat the meat pies & sausage rolls or some fish-n-chips!!Hop on a fiery to the Zoo--Manly Beach--and return. Shop at the Queen Victoria Building as well as all the under ground shops and the ones up--there are so many things to do--you can not fit it all into 2 days!!! Make sure you have some great walking shoes--bring a back-pack and have a great timeGreat places not far out of the city--but--that will have to be for another trip into Sydney!!!

I am fortunate that I have found this site, it gives me bundles of information about traveling, cheap flights, good places to go etc.

I thought it was about time I checked back in to see how everyone was doing with their plans??I can't believe it's eight weeks and six days til i fly, OH MY GOD.....I feel so unorganised and short of cash it's unreal....!!

So far I've booked my flight for Sept 20th, stopover hotel in Hong Kong for two nights, five nights accom in Sydney at The Rocks when I arrive, then just winging it from there until Christmas and NY when I'm booked back in at The Rocks for two weeks......hopefully it'll all come together ha ha

By the looks of things I should have about £2500 when I fly out to Oz which worries me ALOT as I know it's gonna be gone very quickley. I get paid while I'm out there which gives me about another £1400 at the end of Sept and and hopefully about the same at the end of October if everything goes according to plan which gives me a little breathing space but I'm going to need some work sharpish if I'm going to make ends meet.

My original trip was planned to be 12 months but it's looking like 5 months now, a shame I know but I'm sure I'll have time to fit plenty of adventures in during that time.

I've just spent the best part of my morning at work reading this thread as it's pretty long, sorry for joining so late, but it's got me so hyped up for oz!!

I'm 22 and travelling out to oz on 25th October this year. I'm heading over with my friend for a week and spending three nights in Hong Kong then flying to Sydney. After the week with my friend I'm on my own and haven't got anything planned for that. I've only recently started to panic to get things sorted so I'm not too sure what to do. I was looking into ozintro which seems pretty good as a starter but I'm not sure if I'm just as well booking into a hostel or not. I had a friend who went out at the beginning of the year and went with STA travel and had the time of her life but this all seems pretty pricey to me and by the looks of it there shouldn't be a problem meeting people.

I initially thought of heading up the east coast but by the looks of it, it might be easier flying up to Cairns then heading back down the coast. Anyone heading out roughly the same time as me? Or can help me with my plans?!

Welcome to the chat, i am arriving in oz on the 18th Oct and spending my first week with ozintro, i am then gonna catch a flight upto Cairns then travel back to sydney for the xmas n/year period, Have u anything booked for the xmas period as alot of places are already fully booked so i would defo think about booking into somewhere asap. I am booked into the YHA Sydney Central which was very reasonably priced.

First thing to do is decide whether you are going to work in oz, if so you need to apply for your working holiday visa, this is dead easy and it only takes a few minutes to complete the forms online, i got my answer back in about 30 mins so it is a real quick process.Have you got your flights booked yet, im flying with Emirates on the 16th Oct from Manchester which i found to be very competitive and the bonus was that you could take 30kg instead of 20kg, defo a good thing for girls who need all those essential items ( straightners, makeup, shoes etc) hahaha!!

With regards to finances you can set up a bank account from the uk with the NAB Bank ( National Australia Bank), they seem to be the best and you dont have to pay any fees at there atms or any monthly fees regardless of the balance in the account, also you can transfer your money from here to that account so it is readily available for when you arriveI am going to be setting mine up this weekend i will let you know what the process was like.

I should be in cairns from the back end of Oct, if you want to catch up over there for a few beers and a chin wag that would be great, as you i will be travelling alone and i think it would be great if we can make as many friends as possible to then take on this adventure of a lifetime.

I arrive back in Scotland mid December so won't be in Oz for the Xmas period. As much as I would love to I am only taking 6 weeks off my work to go travelling. I def won't be working in oz and hope to cram in as much as I can during the six weeks. My flights are booked with Quantas. Fly out of Scotland on 25th October spend 3 nights in Hong Kong then arrive in Sydney on the 29th. I'm not sure of the luggage limit, hopefully it's pretty big as I'm not that good at travelling light.....

That would be great if you could let me know about setting up that bank account. I'm not really sure what to do if I'm only there for six weeks.

I'm quite liking the idea of heading up to Cairns then making my way back down the coast. Not sure if it would be cutting into my time too much if I do the ozintro thing. What info do you have for oz intro? It looks like it could be ace fun! I'm getting so excited for going now. Really nervous at the same time as I've never done something like this before!!